THANKS EVERYONE!!!The shelf is almost full... And there are 3 more books on the way (from Andrew, Timewaster & Dr. Lazarus... new updating coming soon upon their arrival). Once those 3 arrive, I'lljust need 2 more books to completely fill it!

I've been asked what happens once the shelf is full... well, like I said in the mission statement, the goal is to fill an entire bookshelf, baby! So we'll move down to the second shelf. That's why it's called "INSANE Mission" and not just "Semi-Crazy Mission". Each shelf grouping will have their own unique "from:____" card inside (info). Everyone above is in the 1st group and gets special thank yous for launching INSANE MISSION!TOTAL BOOKS ON SHELF TO DATE: 35------And its never too late to join in on the fun and contribute to my INSANE MISSION! Simply send an amazon.com gift card to jimsmash@gmail.com ($5, 8, 12, 16, etc in increments of 4 - see link for further info).

Or, if you have/find a copy of the ALIENS NOVELIZATION and want to DONATE, please email me!* "What's this about?" ---> Click HERE.

For the most part I enjoy THE CLONE WARS cartoon. In almost every episode, there's always something that's fun and/or cool..... and better than the dreadful live-action Prequels. *(Feel free to refer to my super dorky "How To Watch & Enjoy The Clone Wars" post here). But alas, they just can't leave things alone... they truly hate us all... and really just don't "get it".... yes, the angst-ridden TEENAGE "BOBA FETT" is going to make his debut on the show.

Apparently he's all about REVENGE and wants to kill MACE WINDU for murdering...sigh... his father, JANGO FETT (ugghhh). Besides the fact that we know "Boba Fett" will FAIL in this revengeful attempt (which is lame - Boba always gets his man), to add further insult to injury we have to see his stupid little face again... AND they are bringing back the original Prequel "Boba" actor, DANIEL LOGAN, to do the voice - come on, man... hire JASON WINGREEN (original trilogy Boba Fett voice) to do the voice!

No wait! Scratch that! Let's keep the Original stuff and the Prequel crap as separate from one another as humanly possible. Daniel Logan doing the voice is just fine.

By the way, I have "Boba Fett" in quotes in this post because I simply do not acknowledge the shitty Prequel origin of "Boba Fett". He's not related to Jango... nor is he a goddamn clone... we never saw him as a little brat.... and he has no ties whatsoever to Stormtroopers. Boba Fett was in EMPIRE and that's all. That's right, he wasn't even in JEDI... that was the chode who was running around in copy-armor pretending to be Boba... which explains why he goes out like a chump - Not Boba Fett.

The other day I posted about how I wanted the LIL AQUAMAN from the "Batman: Brave & The Bold" toyline. Well, I just bought one on ebay for 99-cents. Score! To the people online selling Lil Aquaman for $35.... in your face! And thank you to all the JimSmash Readers who went looking for the figure in their area for me!*pic is from ebay auction... not my shelf.

Monday, March 29, 2010

Well poop... this weekend I saw another trailer for the CLASH OF THE TITANS REMAKE. While I wasn't super pumped before, I was trying to be optimistic and was getting excited to see this new one - it looked fun and at a level where I would go see it in the theaters. But not after seeing this latest trailer.

What's turned me off is the horrible Medusa face-morphing... the hair-snakes all hissing and attacking with her ala Little Shop of Horrors... the over-the-top video game Medusa battle scenes (the original Medusa scene is still fantastic cinema storytelling!)... and the yawnsville CALIBOS... Plus there's the disappointing giant TURTLE KRAKEN. My interest is gone.

To me, this film simply looks like a rushed, crappy fantasy movie you'd expect to see on the SyFy Channel. Ok, maybe not THAT bad... but not as good as I'd hoped (which was already with low expectations). Hopefully my fears will be proven wrong and this remake will be fun flick, worthy of multiple viewings and reside within the "JimSmash Movie Library". But for now, unless I hear overwhelming praise from trusted sources, this remake looks to me to be a RENTAL.

Friday, March 26, 2010

This is something I simply don't need to see. It's a personal preference.

With maybe a handful exceptions, I've never been a fan of the Expanded Star Wars Universe. What do I need to know about the Rancor? They're big, mean monsters of awesome. One lived under Jabba's palace and ate things like defiant dancers and unlucky Gamorrean Guards. It had an emotional fat, bald caretaker and was eventually killed by Luke Skywalker... or a heavy door, if you want to get technical. That's all I need to know.

But if you want to know more, here's some [useless] info about the RANCOR found on Wookieepedia (the Star Wars wiki):

...They have been used for many things...[including] a source of food. Rancors were also the source of the delicacy (or at least an edible meal) known as 'raw rancor-beast liver'.

...While it is known that rancors did care for their young—usually born two at a time—they did not suckle and hatched from eggs like those of a reptile. The 3 meter tall hatchlings rode the mother, one dorsal, one ventral, until reaching maturity, though despite this nurturing nature, it was not entirely unheard of for a mother to eat her young.

...Rancors had a symbiotic relationship with Gibbit birds , and avian species that would clean their teeth, an action that provided the birds with food and the Rancors with a form of "dental hygiene."

Hey, remember that auction I posted about that had the Dish from Alien 3? Well that same auction also had the original MATTE PAINTING of GATEWAY STATION by ROBERT SKOTAK seen at the beginning of ALIENS! It went for $4,000and yes I totally would have bought it. I told Mrs Smash about it and even she agreed there would have been no stopping me so she would have "allowed" it (I wear the pants, damnit!). I know she wouldn't have let me spend 4-grand we don't have on it, but it sure was supportive of her to say so wasn't it? Anyway, that fucking sucks.... I really really really would have liked to have owned that. *sniffle*

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Speaking of Aquaman... I saw in the store the other day that they've made an AQUAMAN figureine within the "Batman: The Brave and the Bold" line (based on the cartoon)! At first I was bummed because it appeared he was only available in a big multi-pack that costs around $35. But then I rejoiced with glee when I discovered you can also get him in a 2-pack alongside Black Manta. Yay!

I did a quick online search and most places are selling that 2-pack for $35. WTF? That's how much that big multi-pack costs! I hate the world of Toy COLLECTORS. Anyway, I may have found a place that's selling it for around $15.... but you have to factor in shipping costs. Sigh. Well, first I'll do the ole fashion hunt-on-foot at my local stores.... lemmie know if anyone finds one!.... and I just want the Aquaman if someone wants a Black Mantra.

Also, I saw on the shelf this kickass "Retro" BATSUB which is part of the same toy line. Sweet! I may have to get the sub, too... so Aquaman has someone to play with in the tub. er, I mean on the shelf.

JESUS SAIZ is awesome. In the latest BRAVE & THE BOLD (#32), Saiz' art & sequential storytelling wowed me. That's doesn't happen often thesedays. And his Aquaman is quite possibly the best I've ever seen (sorry, Patrick Gleason - I still love you, too). Just look at that bottom page!

While the writing by JMS is meh (outside a few great Aquaman moments; "SUBMIT!")... the visuals kick total ass! I must also give props to colorist TRISH MULVIHILL who painted a wonderful, eerie world for Aquaman to shine in.

I recommend picking up this issue. And I reallyyyyy want DC to put SAIZ and MULVIHILL on an ongoing monthly Aquaman book!!!!